INCREDIBLE JOURNEYS : Dr.Willmar Schwabe India : Episode 1

Chief Correspondent Posted On September 3, 2017

In the middle of the 19th century homoeopathic preparations were in great demand. The preparations of those days were manufactured by pharmacists which varied in quality, sometimes even of questionable quality. A German pharmacist, Dr. Willmar Schwabe (1839 – 1917), one of the pioneers in homoeopathy, was so dissatisfied with this situation that he had the motive action to set quality standards for the production of homoeopathic medicines. His work and commitment have been a binding legacy for Schwabe Group up to the present day. In 1866, two years after his qualification as a pharmacist, he founded his own company “Homöopatische Centralofficin Dr. Willmar Schwabe” (Central Homoeopathic Dispensary Dr. Willmar Schwabe). The foundation of this company was to become a milestone in medical history. He developed analytical methods and defined pharmaceutical technical processes for homoeopathic drug materials. He introduced quality controls and organised the cultivation of medical plants. In accordance with his stringent quality criteria, homoeopathic preparations were produced. More than 700 regional dispensaries distributed throughout Germany, Europe and all over the world were added to the original “Centralofficin” in Leipzig. Having inaugurated the first homoeopathic policlinic in Leipzig, Schwabe started his activities in the fields of health and social politics. In 1866 he founded a publishing house specialising in literature for both the medical profession and the public.

Ashish Kumar, MD Dr.Willmar Schwabe India

In 1872, he produced the standard work for homoeopathic pharmaceuticals – the “Pharmacopoea Homoeopathica Polyglottica”, which gave minutely detailed instructions on the production of homoeopathic medicines. It was another milestone in homoeopathy. Soon, Schwabe´s work gained world-wide recognition and was translated into many languages. In 1934, a new edition was published as the official “Deutsches Homöopatisches Arzneibuch” (German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia), which is now incorporated into the homoeopathic section of the official German Pharmacopoeia.

Through out his life, the main aim of Dr. Willmar Schwabe was to provide high quality homoeopathic medicines by standardising the industrial production with modern analytical technologies as well as strictly adhering to the rules laid down by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homoeopathy. To quote Dr. Willmar Schwabe: “I have founded an institution of my own which examines every homoeopathic remedy for genuineness and purity and which sets standards for its quantity, the content, effectiveness and characteristics of the substances”.

With each following generation, Schwabe group continued to grow. The values of the founder, reliability, innovation, quality and responsibility, still guide the company’s evolution. These are the principles on which our success is based.

Incredible Journeys – A Brand & Leadership Series

Through this platform, we are featuring the Brand and its Leadership from inception to glory. Leaders & Brands who with their business acumen and perseverance, have made an impact in shaping up the modern India need to be recognised and felicitated on a national platform. These experiences are not only an inspiration to Indian nationals but a visionary aspiration to global audience. Our show is an amalgamation of an elaborate episodic series on CNBC TV 18 and CNBC Awaaz chronicling the life of such Leaders who are featured through this platform. The concept glues together their journey from inception, creatively weaving a compelling story of their lives in a never-seen-before format on television.